Bhagavad Geeta Chapter 2 Verses 21 – 30

SANKHYA YOGA

Sanjaya recounts the condition of Arjuna, who was agitated due to delusion of attachment, fear and confusion.

Lord Krishna rebukes Arjuna for his dejection and diffidence, and urges him to fight the war of righteousness. After failing to convince Sri Krishna through his seemingly wise thoughts, Arjuna realizes his helplessness and surrenders himself completely to the Lord, seeking His guidance to get over the conflicts existing in his mind.

Lord Krishna takes pity on Arjuna and proceeds to enlighten Arjuna by various means, offering profound knowledge and practical techniques.

21.
Vedaavinaashinam nityam ya enam ajam avyayam;
Katham sa purushah paartha kam ghaatayati hanti kam.

21.
Whosoever knows Him to be indestructible, eternal, unborn and inexhaustible, how can that man slay, Oh Arjuna, or cause to be slain?

22.
Vaasaamsi jeernaani yathaa vihaaya Navaani grihnaati naro’paraani;
Tathaa shareeraani vihaaya jeernaa Nyanyaani samyaati navaani dehee.

22.
Just as a man casts off worn-out clothes and puts on new ones, so also the embodied Self casts off worn-out bodies and enters others that are new.

23.
Nainam cchindanti shastraani nainam dahati paavakah;
Na chainam kledayantyaapo na shoshayati maarutah.

23.
Weapons cut It not, fire burns It not, water wets It not, wind dries It not.

24.
Acchedyo’yam adaahyo’yam akledyo’shoshya eva cha;
Nityah sarvagatah sthaanur achalo’yam sanaatanah.

24.
This Self cannot be cut, burnt, made wet nor dried up. It is eternal, all-pervading, stable, ancient and immovable.

25.
Avyakto’yam achintyo’yam avikaaryo’yam uchyate;
Tasmaad evam viditwainam naanushochitum arhasi.

25.
This (Self) is said to be unmanifested, unthinkable and unchangeable. Therefore, knowing This to be such, you should not grieve.

26.
Atha chainam nityajaatam nityam vaa manyase mritam;
Tathaapi twam mahaabaaho naivam shochitum arhasi.

26.
But, even if you think of It as being constantly born and dying, even then, O mighty-armed, you should not grieve!
21

27.
Jaatasya hi dhruvo mrityur dhruvam janma mritasya cha;
Tasmaad aparihaarye’rthe na twam shochitum arhasi.

27.
For, certain is death for the born and certain is birth for the dead; therefore, over the inevitable thou should not grieve.

28.
Avyaktaadeeni bhootaani vyaktamadhyaani bhaarata;
Avyakta nidhanaanyeva tatra kaa paridevanaa.

28. Beings are unmanifested in their beginning, manifested in their middle state, Oh Arjuna, and unmanifested again in their end! What is there to grieve about?

29.
Aashcharyavat pashyati kashchid enam Aashcharyavad vadati tathaiva chaanyah;
Aashcharyavacchainam anyah shrinoti Shrutwaapyenam veda na chaiva kashchit.

29.
One sees This (the Self) as a wonder; another speaks of It as a wonder; another hears of It as a wonder; yet, having heard, none understands It at all.

30.
Dehee nityam avadhyo’yam dehe sarvasya bhaarata;
Tasmaat sarvaani bhootaani na twam shochitum arhasi.

30.
This, the Indweller in the body of everyone, is always indestructible, Oh Arjuna! Therefore, you should not grieve for any creature.